Riding mower safety: It starts before the mower does
BLACKSBURG, Va., Aug. 10, 2001 - Professional landscaper or weekend gardener, safety is your first job when it comes to riding mowers. Those with years of mowing experience sometimes overlook safety precautions. "Don't be one of them," says Bobby Grisso, Virginia Cooperative Extension safety engineer. "The results can be dangerous."
Safety begins with dressing for the job. Jewelry and loose clothing can get caught on moving parts; don't wear them when using any kind of machinery. "It is best to wear close-fitting clothing, including long pants. Sturdy boots with good traction soles can protect your feet and heavy gloves can protect your hands," says Grisso. "Ear and eye protection are also a must. An investment in good safety goggles or glasses can save your sight, just as good quality sound mufflers can protect your hearing."
Know your machine. All mowers of a given type have some of the same basic equipment parts. "However," warns Grisso, "every machine includes unique features, so read the operator's manual to familiarize yourself with your machine."
Read warning labels and check safety features. "Any power equipment can be dangerous," reminds Grisso, "so pay attention to all warning labels and safety features on your mower." Check the safety guards and devices to ensure that they are in proper working order. Never operate your mower without the safety guards and devices in place.
Inspect the mower before every use. Always conduct your mower inspections on a hard, flat surface away from the mowing area. Check the mower's oil and hydraulic fluid levels. Inspect the cooling system for enough coolant in the radiator. Clean any debris off the screen and front of the radiator.
Check the condition of the air-restriction indicator or the condition of the air cleaner and empty any debris. Ensure that all parts, such as belts, pulleys, catchers, and guards are in proper working order. Also, check the tire pressure. Use your operator's manual for step-by-step start-up procedures and machine inspections.
Adjust the cutting height of your deck with the mower off; never when the engine is running. If you are using multiple pieces of mowing equipment on the same landscape area, make sure that the height of your mower deck is consistent on all machines so you'll have a uniform cut.
Check your collection/discharge system. Most mowers will have some combination of material collection system (MCS), side discharge or mulching system. Always check to make sure that your MCS, discharge chute and mulching attachments are properly secured and in good working order. Never start the mower if attachments are not securely fastened.
Clear your work area. Before you begin your job, walk the mowing area and remove all hidden hazards, such as rocks, stumps, and hidden debris such as broken glass, bottles, and miscellaneous materials. Injuries may occur if debris is hurled into the air by the mower blade. "Flying debris can cause injuries to yourself and anyone else in the area as well as property damage," says Grisso.
Inspect your work area for nature's hazards, too. While inspecting your work area for debris, be on the lookout for bees, yellow jackets, poison ivy, and poison oak. Taking note of potential area hazards will increase your productivity as well as your safety. Also, avoid improper working conditions such as overly wet ground, which can cause slippery conditions.
Always start your mower from the operator's seat( never while standing beside the mower. Once you are ready to mow, engage the blades at the lowest recommended engine setting rather than at full throttle. Release the brake and gradually depress the foot pedal to begin forward motion.
When you begin mowing, make a perimeter pass with the discharge chute or grass catcher to the inside( that is, away from the sidewalk, pavement, curb or whatever structure borders the turf. This will keep the mower from hitting curbs, trees, bushes, and any other obstacles. The perimeter pass will allow you to make U-turns in the grass, avoiding tire and grass stains on the concrete.
Always mow in straight lines, alternating directions, and changing the pattern every week if possible. For the best-quality cut, make sure your blades are sharp and mow with the engine running at maximum speed. If you are mowing long grass, use the highest cut setting for the first pass, and then make a second pass to cut the grass at a lower setting. Discharge clippings toward previously cut lawn areas. Never position the side-discharge chute toward people or property.
Know your surroundings. Avoid injury to yourself or others by paying attention to people around you. If a person or animal approaches you while you are working, stop your mower and turn off the engine. You may resume mowing once the work area is clear of all people and animals.
Avoid rubbing objects. When mowing, keep a safe distance from trees and other landscape features. Avoid hitting or rubbing the mower or its tires on any buildings, signs, trees, and other property features. Serious property damage can occur, not to mention unnecessary wear to your mower.
Sometimes while mowing, the deflection chute can become clogged with grass clippings. To unclog it, turn off the engine and make sure the blades are stopped. To ensure safety, disconnect the spark plug wire and use a tool or stick to clear grass clippings. Never clear the deck or chute with your hands, and never place your hands or feet near the cutting blades.
Be extra careful on slopes. Always mow up and down slopes on a riding mower ( never mow across slopes. Decrease your speed when mowing down slopes or around sharp corners to help prevent tipping. Maintain minimal ground speed and make wide, gradual turns; avoid sudden starts, stops, and turns. Remember: if it looks dangerous, it almost certainly is dangerous, so use caution accordingly.
Safety doesn't stop when the lawn is mowed. Good maintenance at the end of the job will keep your equipment in good, safe condition, according to Grisso.
"Again, shut down your mower before performing maintenance," he says. Refer to your operator's manual for proper shutdown procedures. Always shut down the machine from the operator's seat( never dismount from a running mower. Make sure that the mower is completely stopped and the engine is off before you begin your clean-up and maintenance procedures. Your operator's manual will detail specific daily clean up and maintenance tasks.
Clean your mower after each job by removing clippings and other landscaping debris from the mower, mower deck, and deflection chute. Lingering debris can buildup and cause malfunctions or breakdowns of parts. Also, an accumulation of grass and leaves or excessive grease can be a fire hazard.
Routine, preventive maintenance is key to your machine's longevity. Although your operator's manual will provide specific routine maintenance procedures, certain common maintenance procedures apply to all mowers. After each mowing job, you should check your mower's tire pressure and adjust if necessary. Check all fluid levels, belts, guards, and blades.
Prepare a list of potential maintenance problems that need to be corrected before the mower is used again. If your machine requires any repairs, tend to them immediately. Delaying machine and parts repairs will delay productivity. If repairs are overlooked and the mower is reused, damage to additional mower parts or operator injury will result.
Before you start your mower, be certain you've taken all the necessary precautions. By following these guidelines, you can ensure safe mowing, not only for yourself, but also for those around you.
Contact: Robert Grisso
Virginia Cooperative Extension Engineer
Virginia Tech
(540) 231-6538
grisso@vt.edu
Contact: Michael Sutphin
Communications and Marketing
Virginia Tech
(540) 231-6975
msutphin@vt.edu
Writer: Nancy Templeman
Agriculture and Extension Communications
Virginia Tech
(540) 231-6185
templemn@vt.edu